MAY 19, 2001

Ralf feels sorry for Button

RALF SCHUMACHER has urged his former BMW-Williams team-mate Jenson Button to push harder to make the most of his opportunity at the Benetton team.

Schumacher feels sorry for Button, who has struggled at the back of the grid since his close season loan move from BMW-Williams to the Benetton team, who are in the process of transition into the re-branded Renault outfit.

"He is obviously having a terrible time," said Schumacher. "But obviously while you are having a terrible time you must make sure you are not permanently out-qualified by your team-mate.

"Benetton are at the back of the field but you should still be trying to do the best you can.

"Jenson is a very good driver, but then you have to make the best out of your situation. Obviously Giancarlo seems to find it easier to do so."

But Schumacher, who remained with Williams when Button moved to Benetton to make way for new star Juan Pablo Montoya, sympathizes with Button after his sensational drop from top to bottom of the Grand Prix grid.

"It is sometimes not easy," said Schumacher. "Especially for him coming from a very good team to Benetton.

"Basically it's a disaster what we see at the moment but as I heard they will try to bring in a new chassis for the end of the season, so I hope for them that it will be a bit better."

Benetton's decline has been generally put down to the radical Renault engine, but Button said that there is more to it than that and is not expecting improvements until the French Grand Prix in July.